Electrical nerve stimulation device

Abstract

The electrical nerve stimulation unit in accordance with the present invention generally includes a housing, an input panel, a display panel, a controller, a first channel output, a second channel output, and a power system. While the device is generally described in terms of use as a TENS unit, it must be noted that other nerve stimulation applications for the device are envisioned as well. The myriad of intelligent and proactive programmable software functions and features of the present invention are executed on the controller's microprocessor. For instance, open lead monitoring, soft recovery implementation, compliance monitoring, and enhanced power management are all controlled and monitored through the interfacing of the processor with the various devices and hardware on the unit's hardware platform.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of monitoring patient compliance for implementation with an electrical nerve stimulation device, the method comprising the steps of:
 generating an output treatment signal to at least one output channel having at least one lead wire with an electrode for attachment to the skin tissue of a patient; 
 monitoring at a controller the actual delivery of the generated output treatment signal to the patient by polling the at least one output channel for an open lead condition; and 
 storing selected data representing patient compliance at non-volatile memory, wherein the data includes a plurality of compliance data including compliance data dependant upon sensed changes in the actual delivery of the output treatment signal to the patient. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further including downloading at least the compliance data at a communication port. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the downloading of the compliance data includes downloading a patient usage timer and a device usage timer. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the downloading of the compliance data further includes downloading a plurality of independent modality usage timers. 
     
     
       5. A method of using an electrical nerve stimulation device, comprising the steps of:
 inputting at least one operating parameter into the nerve stimulation device at a keypad; 
 processing the at least one inputted operating parameter to generate an output pulse signal at an at least one output channel; and 
 monitoring changes in the actual delivery of the generated output signal to a user through polling of the at least one output channel. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising storing time accumulators in non-volatile memory for use in monitoring patient compliance. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further including downloading the time accumulators at a communication port. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further including uploading software to the device at a communication port, wherein the software controls, processes, and monitors operation of the device. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 5 , wherein monitoring changes in the delivery of the generated output signal further includes adjusting the output signal at the at least one output channel to a low level polling signal upon detection of an open lead condition. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further including setting the output signal to approximately zero upon detecting the removal of the open lead condition, and then gradually stepping up the output signal to substantially the level maintained prior to detection of the open lead condition. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 5 , further including periodically monitoring the voltage capacity of a high voltage level power system controlling output through the at least one channel, wherein an ideal voltage capacity is substantially maintained during operation to obtain the generated output pulse signal. 
     
     
       12. A method of monitoring a high voltage level circuit in a nerve stimulation device to conserve battery power, the method comprising the steps of:
 processing data, including inputted treatment parameters, to calculate a required electrical treatment output; 
 processing the calculated electrical treatment output to further calculate an ideal voltage level needed at a high voltage circuit to obtain the required electrical output; 
 generating the required electrical output for communication through at least one output channel; 
 periodically monitoring the ideal voltage level at the high voltage circuit; and 
 substantially maintaining the ideal voltage level at the high voltage circuit if it measurably deviates to reduce overcharging of the high voltage circuit. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of substantially maintaining the ideal voltage at the high voltage circuit includes communicating pulses to the high voltage circuit to replace pulses utilized in generating the required electrical output. 
     
     
       14. A method of operation for an electrical nerve stimulation device, comprising the steps of:
 inputting at least one operating parameter into the nerve stimulation device; 
 processing the at least one inputted operating parameter to generate an output pulse signal at an at least one output channel; 
 monitoring changes in the delivery of the generated output signal to a user's skin through polling of the at least one output channel; 
 initiating a low polling signal to replace the generated output signal upon detecting an open lead condition at the at least one channel; and 
 performing a soft recovery ramp up of the output signal when the open lead condition is removed such that the low polling signal is set to approximately zero and the output signal is ramped up to a level substantially equal to the output signal generated prior to the open lead condition. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the output signal is ramped up to a level substantially equal to the output signal generated prior to the open lead condition within a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined period of time is some time less than 3 seconds.